Nervous coordination: WAEC Biology Past Questions and Answers

What the WAEC syllabus covers in Nervous coordination

Our summary: The brain, spinal cord and nerves, neurones, and reflex and voluntary actions.

• The central nervous system: components of the central nervous system; parts of the brain and their functions: cerebrum, cerebellum, medulla oblongata, hypothalamus and their functions; structure and function of the spinal cord (Candidates should be able to locate the position of the brain and spinal cord in a dissected vertebrate and identify the various regions of the brain.)
• Peripheral nervous system: somatic nervous system; autonomic nervous system (Functions of the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems only.)
• Structure and functions of the neurone (Candidates should observe, draw and label a neurone from a slide.)
• Classification of neurones (Afferent (sensory), efferent (motor) and intermediate neurones should be mentioned.)
• Types of nervous actions: the reflex arc; reflex and voluntary actions; differences between reflex and voluntary actions (Candidates should perform experiments to illustrate reflex actions such as blinking of the eyes, knee jerk and withdrawal of hand from hot objects.)
• Conditioned reflex and its role on behaviour (Candidates should be able to enumerate conditioned reflexes such as salivation, driving a car, walking and swimming.)

Syllabus content © The West African Examinations Council (WASSCE (harmonised West African syllabus)).